Solenoid valve pre-oiler

ABSTRACT

A preliminary lubricating device for internal combustion engines is described in which lubricant is stored under pressure during off periods of the engine to be released upon closing of the starting circuit so that lubricant will flow immediately to parts of the engine which normally do not receive lubrication until the conventional lubricating system has built up pressure. A pressurizable reservoir is in communication with the lubricating system of the engine and flow of lubricant into and from the reservoir is controlled by a paraboloidal piston acting in a valve controlled by a solenoid which in turn is actuated by an electrical system of the starter circuit. The paraboloidal surface of the piston assists in moving the piston to an open position in the valve body in reaction to the flow of lubricant in two directions through the valve body.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Clifton R. Holcomb 2,889,821 6/1959Maki 540 South Sandusky, Tulsa, Okla. 3,422,807 1/1969 Waldecker [2]]Appl. No. 787,893 3,425,404 2/1969 Lamkin [22] Filed 1968 PrimaryExaminer-Manuel A. Antonakas [v] Patented 1971 Att0rneyl-lead andJohnson [54] RRE-OILER ABSTRACT: A preliminary lubricating device forinternal g Figs.

r combustion engines 15 described in which lubricant is stored [52] US.Cl 123/196, under pressure during off periods of the engine to bereleased 3 5 upon closing of the starting circuit so that lubricant willflow [51] lnt.Cl F0lm 1/12, immediately to parts f the engine whichnormally do not Folm 1/16 receive lubrication until the conventionallubricating system Field of Search 251/120; has built up pressure. Apressurizable reservoir is i i. 1 123/1968 cation with the lubricatingsystem of the engine and flow of lubricant into and from the reservoiris controlled by a parabo- [56] References cued loidal piston acting ina valve controlled by a solenoid which in UNITED STATES PATENTS turn isactuated by an electrical system of the starter circuit. 2,755,7877/1956 Butler et al. l84/6X The paraboloidal surface of the pistonassists in moving the 2,837,174 6/1958 Lyden l84/6X piston to an openposition in the valve body in reaction to the 2,867,203 l/ 1959 Eastonet al. 123/196 flow of lubricant in two directions through the valvebody.

4a 52 5s 42 v42 53 lily/ ig 4 [LI l I l r 1 SOLENOIDVALVEPREaOlLERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto lubricating systemsfor mechanical systems such as prime movers as exemplified-byinternalcombustion engines, and more. particularlyto preliminary lubricatingsystems for conventional internal combustion engines.

In a conventional internal combustion engine, for example, lubricant issuppliedby force to the various operative components during theoperationof the engine.1l-Iowever, after the engine has becomeinoperative-for. some time, thislubricant drains away from the surfaceswhich normally bear against each other. Then, as the engine is startedagain, the engine must operate for a shortperiod of time'before suitablepressure isbuilt up in ;the lubricating system to provide properlubrication. During this period of time' the various surfaces whichmove. against each other are subject to more wear than during the periodof normal operation of the engine. This wear becomes particularlycritical when-the engine has been standing for a substantial time duringcold weather sincelthen the oil is. more viscous and is notreadilypumped.

The problemof overcoming this lack of lubrication during the initialstart up period has beenlsolvedto some extent by the incorporationininternal combustion engines of various lubricating devices known aspreliminary lubricating systems .ortpreoilers. A numberof theseadevicesmay .be foundin the prior art as,'for example, the devicedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,203 and the device described in U.S.Pat. No. 2,755,787. Both of these, patents describe preliminarylubricating devices in which lubricant is stored in a pressurizablecontainer communicating with the usual lubricating system of the engineand from which lubricant is emitted into the lubricating systembyjactuation of .a solenoid valve. However, the arrangement of componentparts as described in.

these patents is more complicated than that in this invention and theoperation is performed in a different manner.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a preliminarylubricating device which is efi'icient in operation, simpleinconstruction, and inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a preliminary lubricatingdevice which will have a minimum of operating partsand, when installedon an engine will require a minimum amount of maintenance.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a preliminarylubricating device which is actuated by the starting circuit .of aninternal combustion engine. to supply lubricant under pressure toportions of the engine during an initial starting period before the mainlubricating system is able to build up operating pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following description andclaims,

7 and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a' preliminary lubricating deviceaccording to this invention showing a valve potion of the device in anopen condition.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing a valveportion of the device in closed condition.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT solenoid valve is connected inseries with the starter circuit so that actuation of the starter circuitactuates the solenoid valve to permit lubricant maintained inthe:reservoir under pressure toflow into the-lubricating system of theengine to provide lubricationto those parts of theenginewhich otherwisedo not receive lubrication during the initial startup of the engine. Asingle solenoid valve is used in the preliminary lubricating device andis positioned so that the armature of the solenoid valve is attachedtothe shaft of a piston within the valve body. Thus, communicationbetween the engine lubricating system ,and the lubricant reservoir iscontrolled by a single piston within the valvebody. The piston is:spring biased to a closed position with reference to the lubricatingsystem so that as pressure develops in the engine lubricating system thepiston is moved to an open position to permit fluid to flow into thereservoiruntilpressure in the reservoir equalspressure in thelubricating system, at which time the spring biased piston moves to itsclosed position. Thus, when the piston closes communication between thereservoirand the engine lubricating system, the lubricating fluid inthereservoir is maintained at a pressure equal to the normaloperatingpressure of the enginelubricating system. Upon actuation of the enginestarting circuit, the solenoid causes the piston to move to an openposition and the valve permits the pressurized fluid in the reservoir toflowinto the now unpressurized lubricating system to provide an initiallubrication in theengines parts. Under normal circumstances, the startercircuit of an internal combustion engine then becomes inactive after theengine starts and consequently the solenoid circuitof this inventionalso becomes inactive at that time which permits the piston to assumeits normally closed position. Thepiston of this invention is of specialconfiguration and is positioned in a valve body in which thecommunication between the reservoir and lubricating system are through afirst and second bore positioned at substantially right angles to eachother. A medial surface of the piston has a paraboloidal configuration.An adjacent anterior surface which bears against the closure member hasa substanopen until the pressure differential between the lubricatingsystem and the reservoirprovides a force less than the force of thespring, after which the spring forces the piston closed to a closedposition. x

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a preliminary lubricatingaccumulator 10 is secuned to an internal combustion engine by means of asuitable bracket 12 and positioned so as to communicate with a lubricantline of the engines conventional lubricating system. The preliminarylubricating device has means to provide pressurized storage of lubricantwhich includes an accumulator container 16 having therein a lubricantreservoir 18 provided by the sealable en gagement of a flexiblediaphragm 20 within a lower potion of accumulator 16. Flexible diaphragm20 has abutting thereto a rigid pressure plate 22 which contacts a majorportion of diaphragm 20 to maintain diaphragm 20 in a substantiallysymmetrical position within accumulator 16 during operation of thelubricating device. FIG. 1 describes a coil spring 24 which abutspressure plate 22 at one end and an upper interior surface 26 ofaccumulator 16 at another end so is to bias flexible diaphragm 20 towarda lower end 28 of accumulator 16 in a manner that reservoir 18 normallyassumes a condition of reduced volume. Other force means than spring 24may be utilized in the accumulator 10 such as fluid pressure. Thus,lubricating fluid entering reservoir [81 through passageway 32 inthreaded fitting 34 must fill reservoir 18 against a resistive forcesupplied to diaphragm by a spring 24. Plate 22 distributes the force ofspring 24 over the surface of diaphragm 20 to reduce wear on diaphragm20. Threaded fitting 34 has exterior threads 36 which cooperate withinterior threads 38 in opening 40 of valve body 42. Accumulator 16 maybe secured to valve body 42 by means of a machine bolt 44 and sealedagainst leakage by a gasket 45. Valve body 42 may be of any externalconfiguration but preferably has a cylindrical interior bore 46 which atone end includes a portion of interior threads 48 which cooperate withexterior threads 50 of a specialized fitting 52 comprised of a largerdiameter fitting 53 and a smaller fitting 53a. Specialized fitting 52has a bore 54 which communicates with bore 55 of fitting 53a to providemeans for passage of fiuid from bore 56 into a lubricant line.Communicating with a second end of bore 46 is a reduced bore 56 whichprovides an opening through the exterior of valve body 42. Secured to anend of the valve body 42 adjacent bore 56 is a conventional solenoidcoil 58 which has therein the usual field coil composed of windings 60having a first terminal 62 connected to ground 64 and a second terminal66 connected to switch 67 of the starter circuit which is furtherconnected to one side of battery 68, the other side of which isgrounded. Although the solenoid coil 58 is shown as a direct axialforce, it is to be understood that the valve shaft may be connected withthe solenoid in other positions to achieve greater mechanical advantage.Disposed interiorly of solenoid coil 58 is an armature which may have aconventional iron core 70 which is free to move longitudinally ofsolenoid coil 58. Armature 70 is biased by means of coil spring 72towards valve body 42. That is, armature 70 is normally positionedadjacent shoulder 74 of valve body 42 until actuation of solenoid coil58 causes armature 70 to move away therefrom against the biasing forceof coil spring 72. Solenoid coil 58 is held in position against valvebody 42 by means of machine screws 76 passing through a washer 78secured within an end of solenoid 58. Armature 70 has a partial boretherein which receives, as by means of internal threads 80, externalthreads 82 of a piston shaft 84 which passes through reduced bore 56 andenters bore 46 of valve body 42, and is connected within valve body 42to one end of a valve piston 86 operating slidably within bore 46. Shaft84 is positioned sealably within valve body 42 by means of an O-ring 88set in a circumferential channel 90 in reduced bore 56. Thus, shaft 84may move slidably within reduced bore 56 without permitting lubricatingfluid to enter solenoid 58. Piston 86 has a circumferential portion 92which fits closely within bore 46 to guide piston 86 properly. Coilspring 72 may also be positioned within bore 46 to bear against the rearportion of piston 86. A medial portion of piston 86 is formed into areduced section having a paraboloidal surface 94 which provides a uniqueproperty of this invention. Interior of and joining paraboloidal surface94 is a spheroidal surface 96 which acts as a closure surface for piston86. In the closed position of piston 86, spheroidal surface 96 abuts anO-ring 98 situated in-circumferential channel 100 to close communicationbetween bore 46 and lubricating line 14. Surface 96 pushes againstO-ring 98 with sufficient force to close the valve body to passage oflubricant, but 0- ring does not become distorted since surface 96contacts curved surface 102 of wall 104 and piston 86 is thereforelimited in its forward movement. Piston 86 has a longitudinal passageway106 which permits lubricant to pass from a trapped position behindpiston 86 into bore 46 at the front of piston 86. Piston 86 does notneed to fit sealably in bore 46. Consequently, some lubricant may becometrapped behind piston 86. Passage 106 is therefore of a small diameterso that lubricant flowing therethrough will not interfere with lubricantimpinging against the front surfaces of piston 86.

During normal operation of the internal combustion engine to which thispreliminary lubricating device is attached, the

lubricating system of that engine builds up a working pressure which isusually in the range of 40 to 50 pounds per square inch. If, at thistime, spheroidal surface 96 abuts O-ring 98 to prevent communicationwith reservoir 18 of the engines lubricating system, pressure in thesystem will gradually build up to force surface 96 away from O-ring 98and against the biasing force of spring 72, so that lubricant under theoperating pressure of the engine enters bore 46 then passage 32 tofurther impinge against diaphragm 20 and fill reservoir 18 to such avolume that the operating pressure of the lubricating system will beequal to the biasing force of coil spring 24. When this equalization offorces occurs, coil spring 72 can then bias piston 86 against O-ring 98and seal in the lubricant in reservoir 18 under a pressure nowequivalent to the operating pressure of the engine. Of course,conventional lubricating lines provide communication for lubricant tothose surfaces most in need of lubrication and are a matter of design ofeach particular engine. Now, with lubricant stored in reservoir 18 underpressure, closing of starter switch 67 as is usually done in the properstarting of the engine, actuates solenoid 58 to pull armature 70 againstthe biasing force of spring 72 so that spheroidal surface 96 no longercontacts O-ring 98 in communication is now had between reservoir 18 andbore 54 then to a lubricating line communicating with bore 54. At thistime, the conventional lubricating system of the engine has not beensufficiently operative to build up an operating pressure for thelubricant, and to serve this purpose, the lubricant under pressure forreservoir 18 rushes outwardly through passage 32 and bore 46 into bore54 to provide lubrication during this initial period. 1

The design of piston 86 in this preliminary lubricating device is ofparticular importance, because the paraboloidal surface of piston 86utilizes the pressurized flow of lubricant from reservoir 18 into bore54 and also from bore 54 into reservoir 18 to make more efficient theopening of the valve member and removal of piston 86 to its closedposition. That is, lubricant flowing from reservoir 18 impinges againstthe paraboloidal surface and continues to hold the valve open until thepressure drops considerably once the solenoid has caused initialopening; likewise, when the operating pressure of the lubricating systeminitially forces surface 96 away from O-ring 98, the further flow offluid from bore 54 into reservoir 18 impinges against paraboloidalsurface 94 to assist in opening the valve in that direction.

After the initial starting period when the engine has started, theconventional starting circuit is open and as a result the solenoid 58 ofthis invention becomes inoperative permitting coil spring 72 to biaspiston 86 to its closed position with surface 96 against O-ring 98.

FIG. 3 describes an alternate embodiment of a preoiler according to thisinvention. In this embodiment a coil spring biasing the piston to anormally closed position is located with the bore of the valve body.Piston 108 contains a recess 110 against which one end of coil spring112 is biased. The other end of spring 112 rests against a shoulder 114of fitting 116 positioned in reduced bore 118 of valve body 42. A shaft120 is secured at one end to piston 108 and at the other end to ar,-mature 122. Armature 122 is actuated by current flowing through coils124 in solenoid 126 in the same manner as the device described by FIGS.1 and 2. Shaft 120 passes through a bore 128 in fitting 116 and ismaintained in a sealable relationship within valve body 42 bycooperation of O-rings 130 with the surface of shaft 120. Piston 108includes a passageway 132 which permits oil to pass from a trappedposition behind piston 108 to the front of piston 108. The geometry ofpassageway 132 in relation to piston 108 is so chosen that the flow ofany oil through passageway 132 during operation of the lubricatingdevice will not interfere with the flow of lubricant between bore 55 andbore 32. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 operates in the same manner asthe device described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Manual release of piston 86 may be provided by a cable 134 attached topiston shaft 84, which cable may lead to a button 136 positioned on theautomobile dash or at some other remote spot from the lubricatingdevice.

In another embodiment of the invention, where line 55 leads to the valvesystem of the engine rather than to the pressurizable lubricatingsystem, a return line 138 having therein a check valve 140 andcommunicating with a passageway 142 in the valve body which is infurther communication with bore 46, provides means for return flow oflubricating fluid. That is, line 55 may be attached to fittings leadingto the valve system of the engine which is unpressurize d. Then, afterproviding lubrication for the valve system, the lubricating fluid iscollected in the usual reservoir system, as the crankcase, which is incommunication with the oil pump. Then the oil pump pressurizes thelubricating fluid and returns it under pressure to the preliminarylubricating device through line 138, at the proper time, where thelubricant can now be pumped under pressure into reservoir 18.

The lubricating system of this invention may be incorporated into amechanical system such as an electric air compressor where the solenoidvalve of this invention becomes operative when the electrical circuit iscompleted as distinguished from the starter circuit of aninternalcombustion engine. In such an electric compressor, the electriccircuit will be maintained in completed arrangement, of course, duringall the while the compressor is operating, and thus the solenoid valvewould be actuated all during this period. When the compressor is stoppedby the opening of the circuit, the solenoid valve will be inactivatedand the piston will prevent communication between the reservoir andlubricating lines. Then, when the circuit is again closed, the solenoidwill be actuated to permit pressurized lubricant to flow from thereservoir.

Since many different embodiments of this invention may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, it is to beunderstood that the specific embodiments described in detail herein arenot to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention isbest defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A preliminary lubricating device for an engine having an electricalcircuit and a pressurizable lubricating system, comprising:

a lubricant reservoir having an opening therein communicating with adischarge conduit depending from said reservoir, said reservoir havingmeans to provide pressurized storage of lubricant;

a valve body depending from said reservoir having a first borecommunicating with a line of said lubricating system and a second borecommunicating with both said first bore and said discharge conduit;

a piston within said second bore and having a medial substantiallyparaboloidal surface exposable to impinging flow of lubricant fromeither said first bore or said discharge conduit into said second bore,said piston surface terminating at one end with an anterior spheroidalsurface abutting closure means relative to said first bore to constitutesaid first closed position;

a shaft extending from the other end of said piston sealably exteriorlyof said valve body;

a solenoid valve having a field coil connected in series to saidelectrical circuit, said solenoid including an armature coaxial with andattached to said piston shaft; and

means biasing said piston to a normally closed position, said meansbeing responsive to actuation of said solenoid wherein said piston isbrought to an open position allowing said pressurized lubricant to tllowfrom said reservoir into said lubricating system.

2. A preliminary lubricating device as described in claim 1 wherein:said electrical circuit includes an ignition circuit, said ignitioncircuit further includes a starter circuit, and said solenoid is inseries relationship to said starter circuit.

3. A preliminary lubricating device as described in claim 2 wherein:said means to provide pressurized storage of lubricant in said reservoirincludes a resilient diaphragm dividing said reservoir into a first anda second compartment, a rigid pressure plate abutting said diaphragm,and spring means abutting said plate and biasing said plate and saiddiaphragm toward saidppening in said reservoir. I

4. A preliminary lubricating device as described in claim 3 wherein:said closure means includes a resilient member disposed within acircumferential channel in said first bore, a first wall of said channelhaving a rounded edge acting as stop means to limit movement of saidpiston after contact of said piston with said resilient member.

5. A preliminary lubricating device as'described in claim 4 wherein:said means biasing said piston to a normally closed position includescoil spring means disposed around said armature.

6. A preliminary lubricating device :as described in claim 5 wherein:said means biasing said piston to a normally closed position includescoil spring means disposed around said piston shaft.

7. A preliminary lubricating device as described in claim 1 includingmeans providing for manual release of said piston.

8. A preliminary lubricating device as described in claim 1 wherein saidsolenoid armature is attached to said piston shaft through mechanicaladvantage linkage.

1. A preliminary lubricating device for an engine having an electricalcircuit and a pressurizable lubricating system, comprising: a lubricantreservoir having an opening therein communicating with a dischargeconduit depending from said reservoir, said reservoir having means toprovide pressurized storage of lubricant; a valve body depending fromsaid reservoir having a first bore communicating with a line of saidlubricating system and a second bore communicating with both said firstbore and said discharge conduit; a piston within said second bore andhaving a medial substantially paraboloidal surface exposable toimpinging flow of lubricant from either said first bore or saiddischarge conduit into said second bore, said piston surface terminatingat one end with an anterior spheroidal surface abutting closure meansrelative to said first bore to constitute said first closed position; ashaft extending from the other end of said piston sealably exteriorly ofsaid valve body; a solenoid valve having a field coil connected inseries to said electrical circuit, said solenoid including an armaturecoaxial with and attached to said piston shaft; and means biasing saidpiston to a normally closed position, said means being responsive toactuation of said solenoid wherein said piston is brought to an openposition allowing said pressurized lubricant to flow from said reservoirinto said lubricating system.
 2. A preliminary lubricating device asdescribed in claim 1 wherein: said electrical circuit includes anignition circuit, said ignition circuit further includes a startercircuit, and said solenoid is in series relationship to said startercircuit.
 3. A preliminary lubricating device as described in claim 2wherein: said means to provide pressurized storage of lubricant in saidreservoir includes a resilient diaphragm dividing said reservoir into afirst and a second compartment, a rigid pressure plate abutting saiddiaphragm, and spring means abutting said plate and biasing said plateand said diaphragm toward said opening in said reservoir.
 4. Apreliminary lubricating device as described in claim 3 wherein: saidclosure means includes a resilient member disposed within acircumferential channel in said first bore, a first wall of said channelhaving a rounded edge acting as stop means to limit movement of saidpiston after contact of said piston with said resilient member.
 5. Apreliminary lubricating device as described in claim 4 wherein: saidmeans biasing said piston to a normally closed position includes coilspring means disposed around said armature.
 6. A preliminary lubricatingdevice as described in claim 5 wherein: said means biasing said pistonto a normally closed position includes coil spring means disposed aroundsaid piston shaft.
 7. A preliminary lubricating device as described inclaim 1 including means providing for manual release of said piston. 8.A preliminary lubricating device as described in claim 1 wherein saidsolenoid armature is attached to said piston shaft through mechanicaladvantage linkage.